Battle of the bosses: (from left) Malaysia’s Kim Pan-gon, South Korea’s Juergen Kilnsmann, Bahrain’s Juan Antonio Pizzi and Jordan’s Hussein Ammouta will be looking to take their teams to greater heights at the Asian Cup in Doha from Jan 12-Feb 10. — Agencies
PETALING JAYA: The Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, from Jan 12-Feb 10 will bring together not only the continent’s best talents on the field but also some great tactical minds from around the world to lead 24 national teams.
And of particular interest to Malaysian football fans will be on head coach Kim Pan-gon and where he stands compared to his German counterpart Juergen Klinsmann, who is the coach of the mighty South Korean team.
Malaysia, ranked No. 130 in the world, will kick off their Group E campaign against world No. 87 Jordan at the Al Janoub Stadium on Jan 15 and next face Bahrain on Jan 20.
It is the final match against world No. 23 South Korea on Jan 25 that could determine Malaysia’s fate to survive the group stage.
The last time Malaysia beat South Korea was back in 1985, winning 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier held at the Merdeka Stadium.
Malaysia can fancy a shot at progressing to the knockout stages with the expanded 24-team Asian Cup this time.
The four best third-placed teams will join the respective group winners and runners-up in the last 16.
Pan-gon has raised his stature by taking Malaysia to qualify on merit for the Asian Cup after just four months in charge but can further elevate himself if the national team get into the knockout stage for the first time ever.
German legend Klinsmann, however, is a master tactician and has his own dream to take South Korea to the top of Asian football for the third time in their history.
Klinsmann was a top striker for Germany in his playing days and won the World Cup and UEFA Cup as a player.
He also had a successful career as a coach, taking Germany to third place when they hosted the 2006 World Cup and is the second German to manage the Taegeuk Warriors after Uli Stielike.
Klinsmann is hoping to win a second continental trophy as a manager, having helped the United States to lift the 2013 Concacaf Gold Cup title a decade ago.
For the record, South Korea have not won the Asian Cup title since 1960 and they will be banking on several players who are doing well in Europe like Tottenham’s Son Heung-min, Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan, Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae and Paris St Germain attacking midfielder Lee Kang-in.
“It’s 64 years. 64 years is a long time for Korea. It’s about time that we get this done,” said Klinsmann when the team arrived in Doha two days ago.
“I have a good feeling with these players because they’re doing well at their clubs.
“They’re healthy, they’re fit, they’re ambitious and they’re very hungry. This is the foundation for playing a good tournament.”
But prior to meeting the highest ranked team in the group, Pan-gon and the national team will certainly have to confront the likes of Jordan and Bahrain.
Bahrain are coached by Spaniard Juan Antonio Pizzi, who previously managed Saudi Arabia in the last edition of the Asian Cup, where they were knocked out by Japan in the last 16.
Jordan’s coach Hussein Ammouta is under great pressure in their Asian Cup participation as he has yet to secure a win since taking over in July last year.
Jordan lost all six matches they played last year, so the last thing the Moroccan-born Ammouta wants is to see his side slip-up against Malaysia in their opening match.
